Marking-stamp



(No Model.) 0. L. ANTON.

MARKING STAMP.

Patented Dec. 5, 1893.

wuowkw L- Na D\| m El 0 m m n n4: NAYIONAL LITNOGRAFHKNG COMPANYIwAsumm'u. 7 n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER L. ANTON, OF MONONGAHELA CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

MARKlNG-STAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 509,858, dated December5,1893.

Application filed June 8,1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER L. ANTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Monongahela City, in the county of W'ashington andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Marking-Stamps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to a new and improved device for printing the nameand address or other matter on boxes, barrels, packages, &c.,preparatory to their shipment or transportation; and has for its objectto dispense with the marking pot and brush heretofore used for thispurpose, by the provision of a hand marking or printing stamp arrangedin coinpact and portable form within a small compass, whereby the nameand address of the person for Whom the article is intended may beprinted in a proper and ornamental manner by unskilled persons with easeand rapidity.

My invention further contemplates printing the characters, or symbols inone or more lines as the occasion demands; and moveover, to produce anappliance of this class which Will be inexpensive in manufacture,durable and convenient in use, and specially adapts for variouspurposes. A

For the attainment of these objects, and for other purposes hereinafterenumerated, my invention comprises a suitable frame carrying a series oftype-bearing keys mounted for independent movement and manipulation inan endless type-receiving way or slot tributary to, and communicatingwith, one or more aligning guide-ways or slots into which thetype-bearing keys are successively and separately introduced foroperation. In conjunction with these features, I provide suitable meansfor inking the type preparatory to their operation, and for bringingthem into their proper relative or spaced positions in the aligningguide-ways or slots.

My invention further consists in certain other details of construction,arrangement and combination of parts, all of which will be more fullydescribed hereinafter.

The novel features of the invention are em- Serial No.477,029- (Nomodel.)

braced in the appended claims, which are intended to accord in theirscope and meaning with the prior state of the art and the exist ing law.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification:-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is an inverted or bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is acentral transverse section. perspective view of one of the type-carriersshown detached from the frame. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of thetype-bearing keys and its supporting and guiding type-holder. Fig. 6 isa detail perspective view of one of the detachable type blocks.

In the several views of the drawings, like numerals of referenceindicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, 1, is the baseplate of the frame, of suitableshape, dimensions, and material, and, 2, is the top-plate substantiallysimilar to the base plate and is arranged parallel and coextensivetherewith, and is held apart or separated a prescribed distance from thebase-plate by means of the transverse space-bars or plates, 3, one ateach end of the frame between the upper and lower plates. In the upperplate, 2, is cut an endless type-receiving way or slot, 4., preferablyelliptical in shape and extending clear around the plate adjacent to itsouter edge as shown. Arranged inside of, and communicating at, both oftheir ends with this surrounding slot, 4:, are the parallel longitudinalaligning guideways or slots, 5, and, 6, of which two are shown but whichmay be of any desired number according to the number of lines to beprinted.

The type-keys, 7, in the form of disks carrying the letter, figure orsymbol corresponding to that particular type, are fitted to the upperends of squared shanks, 8, guided and capable of vertical play orreciprocation in the correspondingly squared central bores, 9, of thetype-carriers or moving supports, 10, which are severally seated in theendless slot, 4, and are arranged to be freely slidable or movabletherein independently in order to be readily shifted and introduced intotheir prescribed positions in the aligning slots, 5, and, 6, whendesired. Each type-carrier or movable support, 10, is in the form of aspool Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail I having the upper and lower disks orheads, 11, 12, overlapping the sides of the slot, and the vertical shankor neck connecting the two heads. The neck or shank of each spool passesthrough, and is loosely seated in, the slot, 4, while the heads, 11, 12,prevent any vertical displacement or removal of any typecarrier. Theopposed edges of the slots, 4, 5, 6, are rabbeted to make the guidingshoulders, 13, for the upper heads, 11, which have two squared sides,14. The rabbets of the two aligning slots, 5, 6, make a snug seat forthe heads, 11, so that the type cannot turn in these slots, while therabbet of the slot, 4, provides a wider seat for the heads, 11, wherebythey can be readily shifted and moved along in the said slot until theyare in a position to be introducedinto the aligning slots, '6. e., inother words, the width of the slot 4 is greater than that of the slots 5and 6, so that the heads 11 are free to move and can be readily shiftedin said slot. This difference in width of'the slots is clearly shown inFig. 3in section. Each stem or shank, 8, is controlled in its'returnmovement by the coiled return or retracting spring, 15, hearing at itsupper end on the under side of the key-disk and at its lower endexerting its tension against the upper face of the head, 11, of theparticular type-carrier. At its lower free end, the type-shank, 8, ofeach key is provided with a type-holding clip, 16, in which thetype-block, 17,is detachably seated. The type and type block may be madeof any suitable material, but I prefer to have the same made of rubberremovably fitted to the lower end of each shank, 8, in a suitable holderso that the type can be interchanged or substituted at will.

As shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2, there are two inking pads, 18,arranged underneath the slot, 4, on each side of the frame in suchposition that by depressing any key before it is moved out of the slot,4, the face of the type will come in contact with the inking surface ofthe pad. The pads are rectangular in shape and fit detachably in arectangular countersunk recess, 19, cut in the upper side of thebase-plate on each side. By this construction the pads can be removedwhen desired in order to replenish the ink or for other purposes.

The aligning slots, 5, 6, are formed by the three guide-plates, 20, 21,and 22, extending longitudinally of the top plate within the outerelliptical slot, 4, and suit-ably secured in position by screws orotherwise. The edges of these guide-plates adjacent to the slots, 4, 5,6, are rabbeted in the manner and for the purpose hereinbeforedescribed; and the two outer plates, 20, 22, have both ends adjacent to,and there forming the inner edge of, the slot, 4, cut away or rounded asat, 23, to conform to the curvature of the said slot at those points, aswill be readily understood.

Adjacent 1:0 the edge of each aligning slot is a scale or gage-plate,24, to enable the'operator-to assemble the type-keys intheir properrelative positions in order to form the desired spaces between theletters or characters.

The slot, 4, is designed to act as a typeholder and receiver for all thetype-keys when the device is not in use; and when it is desired toaddress a box or package, the operator places the frame in properposition on the same; selects the desired type-key in the slot, 4;depresses same in the slot, 4, to ink the type on the lower end of theshank, 8; re leases the key; shifts it together with all opposing keysaround in the slot, 4, until that particular key is coincident with thedesired aligning slot; brings the type-key to the required position bymeans of the scale plate; depresses the key again, thus impacting theface of the type carried by the key against the printing surfaceunderneath and effectin g an imprint of the particular letter orcharacter desired. In substantially the same manner thisoperation isrepeated until the matter desired is printed on the article.

- For printing ordinary addresses comprising the name, the street andnumber, and the city or county and State, it will be found that twoaligning slots are sufficient for this purpose, for in the first twolines printed can be given the name, city, and State; and then byshifting the device to a different position, two more lines are providedfor a more detailed address.

In practice it may be found advisable to deviate from the exactconstruction illustrated and described, since it is obvious thatnumerous changes and variations may be madewhich should be viewed onlyas mechanical expedients, not requiring the exercise of inventivefaculties. Therefore, as long as the fundamental principles of theinvention are adhered to, I am at liberty to make certain variations,changes and departures without stepping beyond the domain of thisinvention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device of the class described'comprising a suitable frame providedwith a type-receiving way communicating with one or more aligningguide-ways; a series of type-bearing and type-operating keys mounted forfree independent movement in the type-receiving way, and adapted to bemoved into printing position in an aligning guide way; and suitablemeans for inking the type carried by the said keys.

2. A device of the class described comprising a suitable portable frameprovided on its top portion with a type-receiving way communicating withboth ends of one or more aligning guide-ways; a series of type-bearingand type-operating keys mounted for free independent movement in thetype-receiving way, and adapted to be moved into printing position in analigning guide-way; and suitable means for inking the type carried bythe said keys.

ICC

3. A device of the class described comprising a suitable frame providedwith one or more aligning guide-ways communicating at both ends with anendless type receiving way; a series of type-bearing and. type-operatingkeys slidably mounted for independent movement in the type-receivingway, and adapted to be shifted into printing position in an aligningguide-way; and suitable means for inking the type carried by the keys.

4. A device for the purpose specified comprising a suitable frameprovided with a typereceiving Way communicating with one or morealigning guide -ways communicating with the type-receiving way 5 aseries of typebearing and type-operating keys mounted for independentmovement in the type-receiving way, and adapted to be shifted intoprinting position in the aligning guide-way or ways; and one or moredetachable inking pads arranged underneath and in operative relation tothe type carried by the keys.

5. A device of the class described comprising a suitable frame providedwith an endless type receiving way communicating with both ends of oneor more aligning guide ways; a series of spring supported type-bearingand type-operating keys mounted for independent movement in saidtype-receiving way, and adapted to be shifted into printing position inan aligning guide-Way; and an inking surface for the type carried by thekeys, arranged underneath the said type to be contacted by the latterwhen they are depressed.

6. A device of the class described comprising a suitable frame providedwith an endless typereceiving and guiding way communicating with bothends of one or more aligning guide-ways; a series of type-bearing andtype-operating keys mounted for vertical reciprocation in type-carriers;a type-carrier for each type-bearing key, mounted for independentmovement in said type-receiving way, and adapted to hold and guide theshanks of the type in their vertical play; and suitable inking means forthe type carried by the said keys.

7. A device of the class described comprising a suitable frame providedwith an endless type-receiving and guiding way communicating with bothends of one or more aligning guide-ways; a series of type-bearing andtype-operating keys severally mounted for vertical reciprocation intype-carriers; a series of type-carriers slidably fitted in the endlessway, and adaptedto be moved in proper position in an aligning guide-wayand held against twisting or turning therein; and suitable meansforinking the type carried by the said keys.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a suitableframe provided with an endless type-receiving way communicating withboth ends of one or more aligning guide-ways provided with rabbetededges; of a series of type-carriers mounted forindependent movement inthe type-receiving way and provided with squared edges adapted to fitsnugly against, yet move in between, the rabbeted edges of an aligningguideway.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination, with a suitableframe provided with an endless type-receiving and guiding waycommunicating at both ends of one or more aligning guide-ways; of aseries of typebearing and type-operating keys mounted for independentmovement in the ways; and detachable type fitted to the said keys.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER L. ANTON.

Witnesses:

GEO. T. LINN, GEO. A. FIFE.

